Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad books Air India ticket, airline cancels it

Despite Shiv Sena moving a privilege motion on airlines banning the MP, the airline stuck to their stand and refused to allow Gaikwad on their flight. 
Ravindra Gaikwad | ANI
Ravindra Gaikwad | ANI

NEW DELHI: In no mood to back down on its stand, state-run carrier Air India has once again cancelled a ticket issued to Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad, who had assaulted an Air India manager at the IGI airport here last week. 

Air India canceled Gaikwad’s ticket from Mumbai to Delhi, booked on flight AI 806 for Wednesday. This was followed by another attempt to book a seat on AI 551 from Hyderabad to Delhi, again on Wednesday, which was also canceled. Air India officials said they will not allow Gaikwad to travel with the airline.

“He has no regrets, he has not even apologised for his misbehavior even after a case has been registered against him by Delhi police,” an Air India official said. 

Gaikwad has been banned by all domestic carriers forcing him to travel by train. The ticket “has been canceled”, an Air India (AI) statement said.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police crime branch is investigating the case slowly giving enough time to Gaikwad. So far, the police have not issued any summons to Gaikwad to join the investigation. The police are claiming that they are analysing CCTV footage of the incident, and after that they will ask Gaikwad to join the investigation.

The Shiv Sena MP, who is at the centre of a storm for assaulting an elderly Air India employee last Thursday, was earlier barred from flying by all major domestic airlines in an unprecedented step in Indian aviation history.

A day after the incident, the Air India had canceled a return ticket of the MP. Private carrier IndiGo too had followed suit, forcing him to take a train to Maharashtra.

The MP from Osmanabad, however, has continued to remain unapologetic about his conduct.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com